NORTHERN INTERIOR 



The Northern Interior sites are general ly located in areas where patterns 

 of manmade activity already exist and are visibly apparent. Gravel removal 

 sites in vegetated floodplains developed the most significant visual con- 

 trasts. Rectangular excavation boundaries contrast with the curvilinear shape 

 of naturally vegetated floodplains. 



The removal of vegetation and overburden created color contrast at the 

 Dietrich R i ver-Upstream, Middle Fork Koyukuk R i ver-Upstream, Jim River, and 

 Prospect Creek. This contrast distinguishes the rectangular lines of the 

 disturbed areas from the surroundings. Color contrast would not be as signif- 

 icant at these sites if the disturbed area boundaries were developed in config- 

 uration to reflect surrounding landform and vegetative patterns. 



Sites that have filled with water (Prospect Creek, Jim River, Dietrich 

 Ri ver-Upstream, and Dietrich River-Downstream) have produced line and form 

 contrasts because ponding is not a common element in the floodplains of this 

 region. Angular diversion channels at Dietrich River-Upstream were equally 

 contrasting with natural channel patterns. The abrupt and block-like shape of 

 existing gravel stockpiles at Dietrich River-Upstream sharply contrasted with 

 the flat terrain of Northern Interior river valleys. 



SOUTHERN INTERIOR 



The presence of tall white spruce-paper birch stands associated with 

 specific site locations make the study sites of this region less visible 

 from public roadways than sites studied in other regions. However, the 

 Southern Interior is a high recreational use area and natural screens between 

 roads and gravel removal areas are not total ly sufficient to keep the dis- 

 turbed areas from public view. 



Landform contrast is the most obvious change in visual quality resulting 

 from gravel mining at the Southern Interior sites. The West Fork Tolovana 

 River, Tanana River-Upstream, and Tanana River-Downstream sites have rectan- 



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